Well, no one is ever ready for a tournament 🙂
It is not that easy to answer your question, perhaps you should tell a bit more about yourself (what kind of tournament, is it your first tournament ever, why do you think that you are not ready for it etc.).
First of all, there are a lot of good suggestions at Dan Heisman’s homepage and in his excellent Novice Nook –columns.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/danheisman/Main_Chess/chess.htm
a.) If you know the time control you can practice it online (FICS/ICC etc.).
b.) If you are unsure of how to keep the record of the moves you can practice that online as well – just write down the move you or your opponent made on a piece of paper.
c.) If you haven’t played with a chess clock you should pop in some local chess club and have a try there.
Generally I’ve found that a good nights sleep is much better way to prepare oneself for a tournament than specific chess training. Anyhow, if you want to have a quick fix in one month the best way is probably to train tactics.
- bahus
Originally posted by peacefulmind150 press-ups each morning, before a breakfast of 47 raw eggs; then sprint a marathon across mountain tops carrying a large log on your shoulders.
I have 1 month before this national tournament I am going to. I don't think I am ready. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should do to prepare for it. Thanks
Ie, do it Rocky style. & let me know how you get on.
bahus in answer to your question it's a national junior championship. This isn't my first tournament but i haven't been in one for over a year. I just need to tweek my skills a bit. I don't think I am ready because I am going to be one of the lowest rated players at the tournament and I want to get good enough to atleast have a chance.
Originally posted by peacefulmindThen start making some moves!
bahus in answer to your question it's a national junior championship. This isn't my first tournament but i haven't been in one for over a year. I just need to tweek my skills a bit. I don't think I am ready because I am going to be one of the lowest rated players at the tournament and I want to get good enough to atleast have a chance.
dear peacefulmind
It is a great homour to have qualified for the junior nationals.
Your worry on lower rating is your major obstacle.
Assume that you are going to get the worst result & then face
the situation boldly.
Stick to your openings with white.
If black play your opponents favorite opening.
Technically equip yourself with modern theory.
Beat of Luck!
Originally posted by peacefulmindHere's what I do.
I have 1 month before this national tournament I am going to. I don't think I am ready. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should do to prepare for it. Thanks
Practice lots of Tactics. Doing this made me reduce my blunders a ton. I recommend getting the CD Chess Tactics for beginners which is good for 1400 or below. If you are above that, get the intermediate or Advanced
Practice making slow moves. After about 10 moves, make sure you take atleast 2-3 minutes per move.
Check your opening preparation. Make sure you have 2-4 openings ready to start out with white, and make sure you have four or 5 counters to the most popular openings (Q- Gambit, King Pawn, K-Gambit etc.)
Study basic endgames. Get a copy of Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Endings or something more advanced if you are 1500+
And finally, RELAX! You can't get an year's worth of studying in by cramming it in the last few days and in between rounds.
This strategy worked for me. My rating is 1097, and I came joint 1st in the U1200 section in a National Tournament with a score of 4.5 out of 5. I came ahead of some 1300's and 1200's who were in the tournament (the tournament only takes your supplement rating, and theirs was below 1200)
Follow these steps and I'm sure you'll do well. Good Luck🙂
Originally posted by chesskid001To tell someone to have 2-4 openings as white and 5 as black is just about the worst advice you can give someone. Pick one thing and study the positions, ideas, tactics, and theory as much as possible. Some GM's don't even play 4 different opening moves as white.
Here's what I do.
Practice lots of Tactics. Doing this made me reduce my blunders a ton. I recommend getting the CD Chess Tactics for beginners which is good for 1400 or below. If you are above that, get the intermediate or Advanced
Practice making slow moves. After about 10 moves, make sure you take atleast 2-3 minutes per move.
Check ...[text shortened]... nd theirs was below 1200)
Follow these steps and I'm sure you'll do well. Good Luck🙂
Sorry, didn't know that it was bad advice.
Just consider though that peaceful mind is not a grandmaster, so even if they use only one opening, that strategy may not apply to him/her.
Also, it seemed to work for me, since the my rating jumped 138 points my last tournament. But I'm probably rated lower that peacefulmind, so what works for him/her may not work for me and vice-versa.
Originally posted by chesskid001No, you missed his point. A player below 1800 (sometimes higher, and in rare cases lower) should have 3 openings. 1 for white, 2 for black (1 vs. e4 1 vs.d4), not that 1100's should have 7 openings while GM's should only have 3....
Sorry, didn't know that it was bad advice.
Just consider though that peaceful mind is not a grandmaster, so even if they use only one opening, that strategy may not apply to him/her.
Also, it seemed to work for me, since the my rating jumped 138 points my last tournament. But I'm probably rated lower that peacefulmind, so what works for him/her may not work for me and vice-versa.
EDIT: A rating jump like that is very common for sub 1200 players.